We reach the midway point of the season with quite a few surprises all across the league. From Arizona’s offensive explosion to the rise of clubs like Memphis, New Jersey, and San Diego, 2016 has not been the season we predicted, and we are loving it. We are watching as LeVeon Bell reaches for the league rushing record, as Larry Fitzgerald has us wondering if 2,000 yards is a realistic possibility, and as Vic Beasley comes out of nowhere to challenge Calais Campbell’s sack dominance. We are also surprised as we try to figure out what has gone wrong in St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Dallas. We have seen Baltimore look horrible and then fully turn it around, as New Orleans shook off a very slow start to rise over the last month, and as Oakland seems to have withered even before the summer heat arrives. Will new stories emerge out of the season’s second half? Will someone we write off now prove us wrong, or will a current hot story fade away as the spring turns to summer? Lots of stories this season, lots of questions moving forwards. We will do our best to capture it all in this Midseason Review edition of This Week in the USFL.
Our Midseason Award Favorites
Here we are, crossing over the midpoint of the season and ready to give out our picks for the midseason award winners, frontrunners for the end of season awards. We will run through all five major awards and give out a couple of others as well as we review the season’s opening half.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
This year’s MVP race already feels like a 2-man showdown, with Arizona QB David Carr going up against Michigan HB Leveon Bell. Both have very legitimate claims to the title and very impressive numbers at the season’s midway point. Carr would seem to have the edge for two reasons, firstly that he is a quarterback and this award does tend to lean towards that position, and secondly, that his club is 7-1 while Michigan is good, but 5-3 is not the same. It is hard to argue with Carr’s numbers being MVP-worthy: 2,560 yards, 24:4 TD:INT ratio, and a 137.1 rating. He leads the leagues in all three major passing stats and is on pace for 5,000 yards with a chance at reaching 50 touchdowns. Bell’s claim is based on his 818 yards, which puts him on pace for 1,600 by season’s end, were he able to push that higher, into the 1,700 range and challenge Herschel Walker’s still-valid league record from 1983 of 1,767 yards, we could see Bell overtake Carr, but without a run at the record, Carr will be hard to beat.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
If Carr nabs the MVP, then Bell is the clear frontrunner for OPOTY. If somehow Bell overtakes Carr, then we could see the Arizona QB here, or, in an odd twist, we could see his favorite target, Larry Fitzgerald, snatch the award away from the quarterback. Fitzgerald is sitting at 994 yards at the midway point, meaning he could make a legitimate run at 2,000. If he can reach that number, he could well garner enough votes to overtake either Bell or Carr.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
A lot here depends on if folks are still tired of Calais Campbell simply owning the sack race every year. There will certainly be momentum to recognize the strong 2nd year from New Jersey DE Vic Beasley, but for as good as his season has been, he is still 5 sacks behind Campbell in sacks, which means he could end the year down even more. Can voters really give him the DPOTY title if he is 7-10 sacks behind Campbell and if Orlando is a playoff team? Seems unlikely. The other potential dark horse is in Chicago, where Brian Urlacher just continues to be a force at MLB, leading the league in tackles at the midway point. Urlacher’s hopes lie in Chicago finishing the year above .500, because no one is going to reward defensive play on a losing team.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
We dubbed Derrick Henry the winner nearly a month ago and we are seeing nothing to alter that prediction. Henry is currently 4th in rushing in the league with 573 yards after 8 weeks. No other rookie even appears on the leader boards in most categories, and as much as we like the season’s being put up by Orlando safety Deion Bush and Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright, it is tough for a defensive rookie to overtake a halfback with the season that Henry is putting together.
COACH OF THE YEAR
We have several contenders because we have several teams with surprise success. It will largely depend on which club finishes the year looking like the most dangerous playoff team. Among those to consider this year are New Jersey’s Norv Turner, San Diego’s Dick LeBeau, and Memphis’s Rex Ryan. Based purely on the fact that he is new to the league, that he is having immediate success in his first season, and that he is a legacy coach, the son of a legendary coach in Memphis, we have to say that Rex Ryan has the inside track if his Showboats can keep pace with Houston in the South and make a serious run at the division title. It will not be easy with the Gamblers and now the Breakers right there in a 3-team race.
COMEBACK PLAYER
Not an actual end of year award, but we wanted to highlight that Denver WR Golden Tate is deserving of some accolades after missing 7 games to injury last year and returning this season in top form. Tate had only 520 yards and 41 catches in an injury-shortened 2015, but has returned in 2016 with a newfound intensity. He has already surpassed his 2015 numbers, with 48 receptions and 766 yards on the year, on pace for his best season yet as a member of the Gold.
BREAKOUT PLAYER
Another category we invented to highlight a strong season from a relative unknown. We would give this award (if it existed) to New Jersey’s Brett Hundley, who is 7th in passing yards and has helped New Jersey surge to an unexpected 5-3 record in his first year as the starter. After spending his rookie season behind Sam Bradford, Hundley is emerging in his sophomore season, putting up better numbers than we see in LA from Bradford and making Norv Turner look good in the process.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS 33 JACKSONVILLE BULLS 27 OVERTIME
We got a surprisingly good back-and-forth game between the Federals and Bulls this week, a game that went to extra time to be decided as the Feds get an overtime touchdown to take the win and move to 5-3. Jacksonville put up quite a fight in this one as Robert Griffin III did it with his arm and his legs, keeping the Federals’ defense off balance all game long.
This was a game between two teams that tend to win with defense and clock control, but in this one we saw a combined 900 yards of offense as both clubs found ways to exploit the defenses of their opponent. Kelvin Benjamin made some huge plays for the Feds on his way to a 116-yard day, while the Bulls saw a combined 166 yards rushing between Cadillac Williams, Matt Jones, and QB Robert Griffin III. It was a game that saw the lead change 5 times, including 3 lead changes in the second half before the game went to overtime.
The first big play came in the late stages of the first quarter. After a series of short drives produced a 3-0 lead for the Federals, Jacksonville got the ball at their own 22, and after gaining a first down to the 37 on a nice Williams run, they got a huge play from QB Robert Griffin as he bootlegged on a play action run-pass option, keeping the ball and fooling the Washington linebackers. As they pursued Williams to the right, Griffin sprinted to the left. A nice juke on the safety and he was off, dashing 63 yards to paydirt and to his longest run in over a month.
The two teams traded field goals early in the 2nd, before Washington finally got their first score of the game. It was Benjamin, bringing in a nice deep ball from David Garrard and scoring from 39 yards out to give the Feds their first lead since the early 3-0 starter. The lead would not last long, however, as Jacksonville mounted a nice 2-minute drill to end the half, putting their own touchdown on the board when Griffin hit Cadillac Williams out of the backfield for a 4-yard score. Jacksonville was up on the favored Federals 17-13 at the half.
Washington received the 2nd half kickoff and proceeded to march the ball down the field, putting it in the endzone on the 15th play of the drive, a bullet of a pass from Garrard to TE Heath Miller, splitting the coverage. Down 20-17, Jacksonville responded on their next drive, using 11 plays, including a bad offsides call against the Feds, to move the ball down the field before Griffin hit Andre Caldwell to put the homestanding Bulls back on top. The 4th quarter began with Jacksonville up 24-20.
Washington responded midway through the 4th as Garrard connected with Brandon LaFell for 11 on a key 3rd down, completed passes to 4 other receivers and then let the savvy veteran, Deuce McCallister recover the lead with a 1-yard plunge. The score was 27-24 with 6:36 on the clock. Jacksonville could not mount a drive on their next possession and kicked the ball back to Washington with just under 5 minutes left. Washington tried to run down the clock but needed a 3rd down conversion to keep possession. They failed as David Bowens burst into the backfield to disrupt the 3rd down run of McCallister, forcing a punt with 3:03 left to play.
The Bulls needed at least a field goal to tie but hoped for a touchdown to get the win in regulation. They got as far as the Washington 18-yard line but failed on two shots to the endzone. David Akers would put the ball through the uprights with only 46 seconds left, but it would be a late stand that seemed to fuel the Federals as the game went into overtime.
Washington won the toss and got the ball first, with a chance to end the game before giving Jacksonville a shot at the ball. They mounted a 73-yard, 14-play drive that included conversions on a 3rd and 7 and another on 3rd and 4. Inside the redzone, Washington did what the Bulls had not been able to do at the end of regulation. On a 2nd and 8 at the 12, they found a scoring throw as Garrard connected with Brandon LaFell for the 12 yard score and the game winner. A tough loss for a very game Jacksonville team, but a good win for a Federals team that now shares first place in the NE Division with the Generals.
ORLANDO 16 TAMPA BAY 10
We are not sure if Tampa has discovered their defense or if Orlando just had a trap game that caught them unprepared, but this one was a lot closer than anticipated. The Bandits held Russell Wilson to 141 yards passing, and while the combo of Moreno and Muray gained 142 yards, they struggled with the Bandits, who had the game tied at 10 with only 5:49 left before a late Wilson to Dwayne Bowe TD toss gave Orlando the win.
POTG: Bandits DE Tank Carradine: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF
MICHIGAN 17 BALTIMORE 20 OVERTIME
The Blitz reach .500 with a solid home win against a good Michigan team. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 347 and a score, while Josh Lambo provided 4 field goals to help Baltimore get the W. The Blitz defense focused on LeVeon Bell, holding the potential MVP to only 46 yards on 20 carries, a season low 2.3 yards per carry. Michigan had a 17-14 lead, but a late Lambo field goal took the game to overtime and in the extra period Lambo did it again with a chip shot 26 yarder to give Baltimore the win.
POTG: Blitz kicker Josh Lambo: 4 of 4 on field goals.
NEW ORLEANS 23 ATLANTA 6
The Breakers’ defense held Atlanta to 198 total yards and only two John Bounds field goals as they dominated the game. Atlanta went 1 of 10 on third down, committed 3 turnovers and saw Kyle Orton sacked 5 times in a dominant performance for the New Orleans D. David Wilson paced the Breaker offense with 62 yards on only 12 carries (5.2 per carry) as the Breakers move to 5-3 after a rough 1-3 start.
POTG: Breaker CB Randall Gay: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR
SAN DIEGO 17 ST. LOUIS 22
The Skyhawks stun the Thunder with a 22-5 run in the second half to upset San Diego. Jordy Nelson and Eddie Lacy put up 3rd quarter scores and a pick-six of Christian Ponder (in for a dinged-up Joe Webb) put St. Louis up for good as the Thunder struggled in the 2nd half with Webb down. Ponder threw two picks and was sacked 3 times in the second half as St. Louis turned up the pressure.
POTG: Skyhawks’ CB Vontae Davis: 5 Tck, 1 int, 1 Def TD
TEXAS 31 DALLAS 21
Dallas played the Outlaws tough but, in the end, there was just too much from Joe Flacco and the Outlaw offense. 2nd half TDs to Marques Colston and Julius Thomas helped Texas pull ahead and hold the lead down the stretch. Both Colston and Marqise Goodwin went over 100 yards and scored on the day as Texas moves to 6-2.
POTG: Texas QB Joe Flacco: 15/25, 291 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
PITTSBURGH 30 PHILADELPHIA 33
A really fun game between these two in-state rivals as the Stars get back to .500 with a key home win. The defense helped the cause with a fumble recovery TD from DE Malik Jackson, 6 sacks of Dalton and 2 picks. Derrick Henry scored another TD and rushed for 76 yards, while Matt Gutierrez found Alan Robinson for another score. Pittsburgh scored the final 13 points of the game, but just did not have enough left to get one more drive.
POTG: Stars DE Malik Jackson: 8 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FR, 1 Def TD
LAS VEGAS 22 ARIZONA 37
Arizona got nearly 200 yards from Larry Fitzgerald and 99 yards combined from Gore and Carey as they pull past the Vipers to move to 7-1 at the halfway point. Fitzie went for 198 on only 5 receptions as David Carr hit him for both 74- and 52-yard scoring strikes. Jimmie Graham also had a big day for the Wranglers, snagging 4 passes for 83 yards, including a nice 43-yard catch and run.
POTG: Wrangler WR Larry Fitzgerald: 5 Rec, 198 Yds, 2 TD
SEATTLE 26 MEMPHIS 31
Rookie QB Jacoby Brissett had a solid game going 21 of 43 for 212 in his first start, but it was not enough as Memphis pulled away in the 3rd. Seattle fought back with TDs by Ajayi and Emmanuel Sanders to make it close, but Memphis would hold on. Eli Manning went 16 of 24 for 189 yards and 2 scores as the Showboats move to an unexpected 6-2 at the halfway point of the season.
POTG: Memphis LT Tyson Clabo: 12 pancake blocks on the day.
NEW JERSEY 10 BIRMINGHAM 16
A much-needed home win for the Stallions as they hold off New Jersey. Brett Hundley was sacked 5 times by Birmingham in a game that saw both clubs struggle to put together drives. Garrett Hartley went 3 of 4 on field goals to create the differential between the two as the defenses won the day.
POTG: Birmingham CB LaDarius Webb: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int
DENVER 14 PORTLAND 24
A bit of a surprise as the Stags found their offense against Denver. Mariota went 25 of 38 for 191 yards and a score, while Felix Jones and LeMichael James combined for 94 yards and 2 scores as Portland held off the Gold to move to 3-5 at the midway point. Denver got 86 yards from DeMarco Murray but struggled in the passing game with Leinart sacked 4 times and gaining only 161 yards on the day.
POTG: Jason Fisk, Portland DT: 6 Tck, 2 Sck
OHIO 14 CHICAGO 17 OVERTIME
Chicago reaches .500 at the midway point thanks to a solid game by the defense. Ryan Fitzpatrick survived a 3-pick afternoon in large part because Chicago’s D got the ball back twice with picks of their own. A 48-yard TD by Chicago WR Aaron Dobson sent the game to overtime, where Chicago shut down the Ohio offense and then put up the winning kick to improve to 4-4.
POTG: Chicago WR Aaron Dobson: 8 rec, 121 Yds, 1 TD
CHARLOTTE 20 LOS ANGELES 22
The Express get a big win as they too improve to 4-4 on the year. Knocking off the 6-1 Monarchs at Farmers Insurance Field, LA built up a 22-3 lead and held on as Charlotte rallied late. Reggie Bush and CB Gustavo Carr got the key scores for LA on a 7-yard run and a 55-yard pick six of Brandon Wheedon, who remains snakebit with interceptions.
POTG: LA corner Gustavo Carr: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
OAKLAND 10 HOUSTON 24
Oakland is not happy to be 4-4 at the 8-week mark after they drop another game. Houston’s Colt McCoy looked good again, throwing for 261 and 3 scores as the Gamblers move to 6-2 and remain atop the Southern Division with the win. Mike Evans had 2 scores and Roy Williams added another as both receivers were over 90 yards in the game. Oakland had their run game going, but when Joey Harrington went down early, Ryan Lindley struggled with few practice snaps to mount a steady offense.
POTG: Houston QB Colt McCoy: 13/19, 261 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
We will use the power of the Top 5 list to decipher the first half of the 2016 season, with its surprises, break out performances, and trends. Looking across the league, we hope to make sense of where we are now and where we may be when the regular season wraps up in 8 more weeks. Let’s get right to it with the 5 biggest head-scratchers of the season to date.
Five Big Unsolved Mysteries of 2016
How is an Express team with a Top 5 defense in both yards and scoring sitting at 4-4?
OK, this may be the easiest mystery to solve. No need to call out Scooby & the Gang on this one. The LA Express are the 2nd best defense in the league in yards allowed and are third best in points, allowing only 17.2 points per game, but their offense has still not fully found a way to capitalize. The acquisition of Demaryius Thomas has not fully begun to pay dividends yet, but with Coach Reid using Reggie Bush more effectively, the Express have won 3 of their last 4. They have a lot of division games coming up, and if they can start to put more than 21 points a game on the board, they could go on a run, which would put an end to this enigma.
Where did the pundits go wrong with Dallas?
For many the Roughnecks, coming off an 8-7-1 record, were a team ready to take the next step and compete for the SW Division. We look now and we see a 1-7 team, a defense giving up 31.4 points per game, and an offense that is one of the three worst in the league. So what did the pundits miss? First off, it seems we all vastly overestimated QB Johnny Manziel and a receiving corps that lacks true punch. Manziel has fewer than 1,000 yards at the season’s midpoint and does not have a single receiver over 400 yards. TE Ben Watson leads all receivers with 35 receptions, which is not a ringing endorsement of the wideout group in Dallas.
Then there is that defense. They can get to the QB (3rd in sacks with 33 as a team), but they cannot stop the run, having already allowed over 1,100 yards to opposing backs in only 8 games. When you add in a -7 turnover ratio, the Roughnecks simply cannot get teams off the field and far too often give them a short field to play with. None of this bodes well for a club that had high hopes going into the season.
What happened to Byron Leftwich?
Benched this week, the former All-USFL quarterback is currently the lowest ranked regular starter in the league. He sits with a 64.3 QB rating, a 6:7 TD:INT ratio, and a 1-6 record as a starter. Leftwich seems to have fallen off a production cliff, and no one is sure just why. When we look at his 2015 stats we see a completion rate that is nearly 20% higher, we see 22 TDs to only 10 picks, and we see a rating over 100, so where did it all go wrong? Is it simply wear and tear on the 35-year-old? Is it mental? It should not be a scheme issue as the coaching staff did not change in the offseason. This one remains a mystery, and now, with Leftwich on the bench, we may not get an answer this year.
What has gotten into the San Diego Thunder?
Sitting at 5-3 after 8 weeks, San Diego joins New Jersey as one of the bigger surprise success stories of the year. But what has been going right for the Thunder this year? The easiest piece of the puzzle to identify is the arrival of Ryan Williams at halfback. Williams is on pace for 1,100 yards and has the Thunder run game among the top 10 in the league. That has had a very positive impact on QB Joe Webb and the passing game as well. While Webb is not putting up huge numbers, he, when healthy, has been solid enough to keep San Diego in games and pull out some tight ones. The final piece of the puzzle is a defense giving up only 18.8 points per game. Led by LBs A. J. Hawk and Shantee Orr, the Thunder are solid up the middle. You have Haloti Ngata anchoring the interior line, Hawk and Orr stuffing the run behind them, and Coy Wire commanding the secondary. That core has made the entire defense much better and has helped them get teams off the field with one of the league’s best rates for 3-and-out possessions. All that together helps explain why San Diego currently sits in sole possession of 1st place in the Pacific.
Is David Carr really an MVP Quarterback?
It seems odd to say it, because Carr has never had the numbers or the reputation as a game-dominating QB, so how can he be among the frontrunners for the award? Well, the 2016 Wranglers are 7-1 at the break, have the league’s best offense, and have been making big play after big play. Carr, who threw for only 2,749 yards all of 2016 (a Summer Bowl season), already sits at 2,560 this season, on pace for a 5,000-yard total. He has 24 touchdowns and only 4 picks. And he is doing it with huge chunk plays. Just look at his two primary receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant. Both outside threats are averaging over 30 yards per reception. OVER THIRTY PER CATCH!!! That is insane! Even TE Jimmie Graham is at 17.8 yards per catch. Those are just insane numbers. When we consider that Frank Gore is not even on pace for a 1,000-year season (He has 446 at the midway point) it is mind-boggling to think that Arizona could have a 5,000-yard passer, a receiver close to 1,800 yards and possibly 2 other 1,000 yard receivers. If that comes to pass, how do you not call David Carr an MVP candidate?
Five Break Out Stars of 2016
Lots of great performances so far in 2016, so who are the players that have emerged, going from potential to performance this season in a way that has everyone talking about them? We picked five who we think are making their presence felt this year.
QB Brett Hundley (NJ)
With Sam Bradford gone in free agency, the Generals took a chance on a 2nd year QB prospect out of UCLA. Hundley has delivered, helping to place New Jersey atop the East at 5-3, and putting up some good numbers along the way. Hundley is currently 7th in the league with 2,084 yards passing, His 12:11 TD:INT ratio is not ideal, but he is completing over 60% of his passes and, most importantly, has New Jersey winning games.
HB Derrick Henry (PHI)
No surprise here, not with the half-season that Henry has had. His 573 yards put him 4th among league rushers and Philadelphia has been leaning on the Alabama product to be the centerpiece of their offense, even more now that Stevie Johnson has been placed on the IR. It is a lot for a rookie back to shoulder, but Henry seems more than ready to take it on.
WR Denarius Moore (LV)
The 5th year receiver for the Vipers is having his best season to date, on pace for 112 receptions and 1,200 yards. Moore has been a solid contributor for the Vipers since they were in Nashville, but this year he is putting up his best numbers and beginning to get some notice as Cody Pickett has chosen him as his favorite target.
DE Vic Beasley (NJ)
Another break out star for the Generals, Beasley is having a monster sophomore year in the league. He sits at 11 sacks, on pace for a 20-sack season. If not for another monster performance by Calais Campbell, Beasley would be a potential DPOTY. He is getting double teamed nearly every play, but still finding ways to get to the QB. New Jersey has found themselves a gamebreaker in Beasley.
CB Justin Gilbert (SD)
The third-year corner for the Thunder is having himself a big year. We probably should have noticed him last year, when he finished with 72 tackles, but this year, with 36 already and 3 picks to go along with it, Gilbert is getting known as a corner you want to avoid if you can. Gilbert has one of the league’s best catch-to-target ratios and is looking very much like a possible 1st time All-USFL selection for the surprising Thunder.
Five Coaches Who Should Be Worried
For every success story, there are teams that underperform, or which just don’t make progress year to year, and for those clubs, the kneejerk reaction is that the coach is the issue, and a change is needed. So, as we look across the league, we certainly see some heat being applied to coaches whose clubs are not where we all thought they would be.
Stump Mitchell (SEA)
After a 7-9 season in Seattle, there were signs that the Dragons could be on the upswing, but the 1-7 start to 2016 has to have ownership questioning whether Stump Mitchell is the man to get it done. Seattle is in disarray on offense, which is supposed to be Mitchell’s strength. Now, after benching Byron Leftwich, Mitchell’s position may well depend on the performance of rookie Jacoby Brissett.
Mike Sherman (DAL)
Another club that seemed to be headed in the right direction only to take a major step backwards. After improving the Roughnecks from 5-11 to 8-7-1 in his first two years, big things were expected from Dallas this year, but a 1-7 start now has folks in the metroplex calling for Sherman’s head. If he cannot show some signs of improvement over the final 8 weeks, ownership in Dallas may decide that 3 years is enough.
Mike Shula (TBY)
This is a tough one because Shula won a title with the Bandits in 2011, but since then the team has just not been able to recover from a generational change of roster. They surprised many in 2014, jumping from 7-9 up to 12-4, but lost in their first playoff game. Since then, it has been 4-12 last year and a seemingly directionless 2-6 so far this year. Despite the bright spots over the years, the lack of consistent growth may well signal the end for Shula in Tampa Bay.
Bruce Arians (STL)
Another Summer Bowl winner, Bruce Arians was on top of the world as recently as 2012, but since then, the Skyhawks have been unable to regain the magic of that season. They made the playoffs last year at 10-6, so there was hope that Arians had righted the ship after a couple of rough years, but this year’s 2-6 start has folks wondering if there is any future for the Hawks with Arians at the helm. If the club opts to blow it all up and start over, that could spell the end of Arians’ time in St. Louis.
Henry Ellard (BIR)
Yes, it is only his second year, but what Henry Ellard faces is a fanbase that cannot believe that a team that has Cam Newton, T. J. Yeldon, and Amari Cooper, three statewide heroes from their college days and three very talented young players, cannot generate any offense. The Stallion faithful expect this club to be dominating on offense, but they are averaging fewer than 20 points a game and it seems Ellard does not have any solutions. That could be a major issue, even for a former Stallion great, unless he can start to get some results in the season’s second half.
Five Players Who Could Look at Free Agency
This time of the season we recognize that it is normal for many of the bigger name players on team rosters to be unsigned for next year, holding out for a better deal or delaying negotiations. But, from that large pool of talent, only a few will decide to explore their options, avoid resigning with their current team and take the plunge into the treacherous waters of USFL (and NFL) free agency. As we look across the league, there are some players who may well opt to go that route. Some are not happy with their roles at present, others may be looking for a big payday. We picked 5 players who are in contract years and who we think could well be considering a move.
WR Jordy Nelson (STL)
While he is a clear number one in St. Louis, if the Skyhawks continue to struggle, and if a full rebuild is in the works, Nelson may well decide to take his talents elsewhere, somewhere that has more solid footing and a better chance for immediate success.
QB Byron Leftwich (SEA)
If Leftwich believes he has more in the tank, and that the Dragons have given up on him too soon, he could certainly sign a short-term deal to be an option somewhere else. There are certainly many teams that could use a QB with his experience and (previously obvious) talents. His 2016 struggles will be an issue, so a 1-year “prove you still have it” contract may be the best option for the veteran.
DE Dwight Freeney (PIT)
Freeney is a part of perhaps the best D-line in the league, alongside Aaron Donald and Jared Allen, but he is something of an underappreciated part of that line. If he hits the free market, he will be perhaps the most sought-after defender on the board, and that could produce a huge payday for him. Don’t be surprised if he jumps at the chance to become one of the league’s highest paid defenders with a move.
WR Keenan Allen (OAK)
Allen has been pretty vocal about his interest in being a true number one receiver. He had a fabulous 2014 season but last year he slipped quite a bit as Davante Adams seemed to become Joey Harrington’s favorite target. He is on pace for a 1,200-yard season this year, so perhaps he is feeling the love once again, but if he truly wants a shot as a number one, moving on from Oakland may well be the way.
QB Eli Manning (MEM)
What a time to have what may be his best season. The idea in Memphis was for Manning to mentor rookie Paxton Lynch, likely giving way to the youngster in 2017, but Manning seems to be proving his worth just at the right time. He can leave the Showboats with Lynch for next year and still have a financial windfall in an offseason when his 2016 success will pay off. Don’t be shocked if Manning finds himself wearing the colors of a 4th USFL team.
Arizona Won’t Put Dansby on IR
Despite a PCL tear that required surgery last week, the Arizona Wranglers have confirmed that they will not be putting veteran LB Karlos Dansby on IR. The 33-year-old Dansby is expected to miss no less than 8 full weeks, with 10 weeks an even more realistic estimate of when he could return to game action. That timeline means that the Conference Championships are very likely the earliest action he could see. Call it confidence or call it respect for Dansby’s role on the team, the move means that if Arizona were able to progress in the playoffs, they could see their defensive captain back on the field. That is a gambit Arizona is willing to take, even if it essentially puts them a man down for the rest of the regular season.
Dansby is in his 13th USFL season, all of them with the Wranglers. He is the undisputed leader of the defense and has been a dominant force on their defense through good years and bad. If there is any chance that the veteran can be on the field for the Conference and League title games, Arizona wants to be sure he is available. So, no IR for Dansby, and an opportunity for the linebacker to make an appearance just as Arizona seeks to claim its second title.
McFadden Possibly Done for the Year
In Charlotte, the verdict is still out for Monarchs’ HB Darren McFadden. MRI Imaging showed that there was a partial tear in the tailback’s groin muscle, a painful injury and one that can be tricky to rehab, but the timeline for recovery is uncertain. It is expected that McFadden will miss at least a month, but there is a chance that the recovery could take twice as long. Due to the uncertainty, Charlotte will not place the IR tag on McFadden at this time. He may be able to return for the closing weeks of the season and Charlotte wants the option to bring him back if it is possible.
McFadden leads the 6-2 Monarchs with 513 yards rushing. The club had signed Adrian Peterson from the NFL as insurance and in part as a reclamation project. Now it looks like Peterson will be thrust into the role of the lead back, at least for the next 4 weeks. Taiwain Jones and Kenneth Dixon will be in support, as it is uncertain if Peterson can truly handle a full-time workload. McFadden had taken on the bulk of all rushing attempts, with 140 touches compared to 72 for all other backs combined, so the loss is a big one, but now Peterson will be tasked with carrying the club’s run game, with McFadden’s return date very much up in the air.
One new addition to IR as San Diego will be without DE Adewale Ogunleye after the big man was diagnosed with a torn quad in his left leg. Several other players likely to be out for several weeks, including Texas DE Chris Harrington and Charlotte HB Darren McFadden. Expect to see Christian Ponder under center for San Diego this week as well, with Joe Webb suffering from a concussion in last week’s game.
OUT
DE Adewale Ogunleye SD Torn Quad IR
HB Darren McFadden CHA Groin Tear 6-8 Weeks
DE Chris Harrington TEX Wrist 4-6 Weeks
WR Brashad Perriman ORL Neck 4-6 Weeks
G Chad Ward WSH Abdominal 1-2 Weeks
WR Danny Amendola SD Concussion 1-2 Weeks
DT Marcus Tubbs MEM Concussion 1-2 Weeks
HB Joique Bell ORL Personal 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
OT Marcus Cannon HOU Stress Fracture
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey BAL Hamstring
HB Javon Ringer MGN Neck
G Mitch Morse LA Back
QB Joe Webb SD Concussion
QUESTIONABLE
LB Darryl Sharpton ORL Migraines
LB Jonathon Goff TBY Turf Toe
DT Ndamukong Suh DEN Eye
WR Mike Wallace SEA Knee
Midseason Power Rankings
Not much change at the top or the bottom of our Power Rankings, but a lot of movement up and down the chart in the middle. Teams who started 1-3 or 0-4 turning things around, others dropping several games in the season’s second quarter produce some drops as well. It is fluid, folks, just remember that. But, with that intro in place, let’s get right to the listing, with Arizona still sitting pretty at the top and Seattle mired at the bottom.
1—ARIZONA WRANGLERS (7-1)
NO CHANGE
No surprise here as the Wranglers have the top scoring offense in the league and the best record.
2—HOUSTON GAMBLERS (6-2)
NO CHANGE
1st in yardage and passing, the Gamblers now have 2 QBs who look like they could both be at the top of their games.
3—CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS (6-2)
UP 6 SPOTS
They don’t always win big, they just win. They came within a safety of being 7-1 at the halfway point as LA just edged them out this week.
4—TEXAS OUTLAWS (6-2)
UP 1 SPOT
The team’s future is becoming clearer, their present is pretty solid, with Flacco and Lynch leading a dynamic offense and with a solid defense to complement it.
5—ORLANDO RENEGADES (6-2)
DOWN 1 SPOT
The best first half Orlando has had in years, led by an improving Russell Wilson and the league’s best defense in yards allowed.
6—MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (6-2)
UP 5 SPOTS
The Showboats have proven they are for real, averaging 24.1 points per game and tied with Houston atop the South.
7—MICHIGAN PANTHERS (5-3)
DOWN 4 SPOTS
A tough loss in Baltimore keeps them from 6-2, but this is still a very solid team on both sides of the ball, allowing a league best 14.5 points per game and leading the league in rushing.
8—SAN DIEGO THUNDER (5-3)
UP 4 SPOTS
One of the season’s surprise stories, San Diego has lost 2 in a row, which has to concern fans that the fun early season ride is showing some signs of weakness.
9—NEW JERSEY GENERALS (5-3)
DOWN 3 SPOTS
They have beaten some very good teams, but they have a tough schedule ahead. Can New Jersey remain a contender through the remaining weeks?
10—NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (5-3)
UP 7 SPOTS
Four straight wins have helped wipe out the sour taste of a 1-3 start, but they still find themselves in a tough spot with both Houston and Memphis ahead of them.
11—WASHINGTON FEDERALS (5-3)
UP 4 SPOTS
Better than most expected, thanks in part to a revived passing game. LaFell, Benjamin, and TE Kellen Davis are proving a solid group of receivers for David Garrard.
12—BALTIMORE BLITZ (4-4)
UP 15 SPOTS
An 0-4 start was followed by a 4-0 second month. Watch out, the Blitz seem to be playing angry, and they seem to have also found their defense, a bad combo for the rest of the NE Division.
13—DENVER GOLD (4-4)
UP 1 SPOT
Consistency is the issue with Denver, which knocks off the Wranglers one week then loses in Portland the next.
14—OAKLAND INVADERS (4-4)
DOWN 6 SPOTS
They started 3-1, then dropped 3 of 4 to sit at .500 after 8 weeks. With 3 straight divisional games coming up (LA, @ SD, Portland), they can make a statement over the next few weeks.
15—PHILADELPHIA STARS (4-4)
DOWN 8 SPOTS
Another team that started fast (3-1) but has struggled of late. Their win this week against Pittsburgh is a good sign that the first month was not a mirage.
16—LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (4-4)
UP 10 SPOTS
The Express have won 3 of their last 4, including a nice win against Charlotte this week. They will have 4 divisional games in their next 5, including 2 against Oakland, so the time is now to make a move.
17—CHICAGO MACHINE (4-4)
UP 8 SPOTS
The Machine have swept Ohio and surprised Texas in the last month. Can they keep that up and make a run in the Central? They play Michigan back-to-back these next two weeks. Sweep that series and it is Chicago’s division to lose.
18—PITTSBURGH MAULERS (3-5)
NO CHANGE
Just as they start to show signs of life with wins over Ohio and Washington, they cannot take care of Philly and drop below .500 again. It does not get any easier with Baltimore and New Orleans up next.
19—JACKSONVILLE BULLS (3-5)
DOWN 9 SPOTS
The defense has been there, but it cannot do it alone. The Bulls’ need more from their offense, particularly QB Robert Griffin III if they want to top .500 this season.
20—BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (3-5)
DOWN 7 SPOTS
Speaking of a team that needs more on offense, Birmingham has some big names, but they are only putting up 18.8 points a game and Cam Newton is not delivering as most expected he would, pushing the Stallions to the basement of the Southern Division.
21—PORTLAND STAGS (3-5)
DOWN 1 SPOT
Maybe trading away Fitzpatrick was not the best move. The Stags are only averaging 15.4 points per game with Mariota running the offense. Of course, the loss of Jonathan Stewart has also been a tough one to come back from.
22—LAS VEGAS VIPERS (3-5)
NO CHANGE
The Vipers have had some good games, winning 3 of 5 and losing 3 of their 5 games by a field goal or less. They need more from their 24th ranked defense if they hope to hit .500 this year.
23—OHIO GLORY (3-5)
DOWN 7 SPOTS
The Glory just don’t have an answer at QB right now. They have to win with defense and by shortening games, and when you have 1 winning path, it is hard to win many games.
24—ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (2-6)
DOWN 5 SPOTS
A hugely disappointing half of the season, but the win this week against San Diego shows that there are still signs of life in St. Louis. The question of a full blow-up/rebuild are still very much on the table however.
25—TAMPA BAY BANDITS (2-6)
DOWN 2 SPOTS
Losing Pat White has meant that the Bandits have had to rely on rookie Dak Prescott. White may be back as soon as this week, so does that provide a spark?
26—ATLANTA FIRE (2-6)
DOWN 2 SPOTS
Fans are getting tired of Kyle Orton’s limitations, and we suspect that management is as well. Expect Atlanta to be a player in the QB hunt this offseason.
27—DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (1-7)
DOWN 6 SPOTS
This is not the season anyone expected from the Roughnecks this year, but when your defense gives up 371 yards and 31.4 points each game, you are not going to win often. This could be big trouble for Coach Sherman.
28—SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-7)
NO CHANGE
A team clearly in need of a youth movement, Seattle is testing out rookie Jacoby Brissett, which may mean that veteran Byron Leftwich could find another home this offseason.
More Clarity on New League Uniform Options
We have gotten more clarity from the USFL on its updated uniform policy to go into effect in 2018. Along with the switch from Adidas to Under Armour as the league’s uniform and apparel provider, the league introduced some new uniform guidelines, but questions quickly arose as to what the guidelines meant for each club. We have gotten some clarity on that as USFL officials spoke with our team about the new policy.
What we learned is that as of 2018 teams will be able to have as many as 5 uniforms. Each team will have a designated home and away set, the typical dark and white sets we currently see. Additionally, each team could designate a home and away set based on past uniform designs, a throwback set for home and road. The stipulation is that these sets must represent uniform designs that are at least 10 years old and that they can only be worn as part of a “throwback game” in which both teams where similar throwback sets. Finally, each team will have one alternate set, themed around the team’s history or its host city or region.
One final limitation on the team looks is that of the helmet. Each team may have up to two different helmet shells but may modify the logo decals with either set. This means that a team like Washington could have their current designs on the white helmet as well as a throwback set that depicts their 1983 logos and striping on the same white shell. They could then opt to create a green helmet alternate, a black helmet alternate, or perhaps use a silver helmet to go throwback and use their standard white for a new alternate look. What is not possible is for a team like Baltimore to have a blue helmet for regular use, a “white-out” option, and a silver throwback. They would have to stick with 2 helmet colors for all 3 looks (modern, throwback, and alternate).
Early indications is that many teams are set on their throwback looks, but the alternates will be designed in conjunction with Under Armour and Riddell as each team gets its revised design package between 2018 and 2023. So, what can we expect? Here are a few early hints:
We should expect to see teams which have changed their helmet color over the years use the 2-shell rule to bring back a classic look. That may be good news for Baltimore fans who hope to see a retro silver helmet. But, since most clubs have stuck with the same helmet color throughout their history, what may be more prevalent is seeing 2 designs on the same shell. For example, the Breakers could bust out their original Boston blue colors alongside their current teal designs. LA could use the classic 1983 Express “LA” logo on the same silver shell they use for their modern “jet” logo.
It also means that many of the 2nd shells could be used for the alternate look. Could we see a return to the short-lived Tampa Bay “Night Rider” black helmet? How about New Jersey in blue? Chicago or Pittsburgh playing up the grey in their color scheme, or a team throwing in a whiteout look or a black-for-black’s-sake look just to mix things up? Of course, we will need to see if any clubs opt to modify their current designs and helmet colors as they work with Under Armour as well. After all, we just saw Seattle go from forest green to white shells, so there could be others who use the new policies to try out something new but keep a tie to the past through the throwback option. Exciting stuff for fans of sports design, and it will all start with the 2018 reveals at some point next year.
We open the season’s second half with a rivalry game that has seen better days. This year’s Cascade Clash features two teams with a combined 4-12 record. Seattle will start rookie Jacoby Brissett again as 2nd year QB Marcus Mariota gets the start for the Stags.
On Saturday we have some good ones, kicking off with 6-2 Orlando headed to 5-3 New Orleans. Then, at 4pm, a California Derby with some punch behind it as both LA and Oakland sit at 4-4 after 8 weeks. San Diego travels to Denver in a key inter-divisional game, while the two night games feature key divisional rivalries as Baltimore heads to Pittsburgh on NBC and Chicago is in Michigan on the late ESPN/EFN game.
Sunday has only 1 divisional matchup, the night game between Memphis and Houston, with both sitting at 6-2 after 8 weeks. During the day, we have an intriguing one with New Jersey at Charlotte at noon and then at 4pm we see St. Louis, hot off their win at home against San Diego, headed to Texas to face the Outlaws in a game to be played at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos.
Friday @ 8pm ET PORTLAND (3-5) @ SEATTLE (1-7) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm ET ORLANDO (6-2) @ NEW ORLEANS (5-3) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET BIRMINGHAM (3-5) @ PHILADELPHIA (4-4) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET LOS ANGELES (4-4) @ OAKLAND (4-4) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET SAN DIEGO (5-3) @ DENVER (4-4) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET BALTIMORE (4-4) @ PITTSBURGH (3-5) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET CHICAGO (4-4) @ MICHIGAN (5-3) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET DALLAS (1-7) @ TAMPA BAY (2-6) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm ET WASHINGTON (5-3) @ OHIO (3-5) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET NEW JERSEY (5-3) @ CHARLOTTE (6-2) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET JACKSONVILLE (3-5) @ ARIZONA (7-1) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET ATLANTA (2-6) @ LAS VEGAS (3-5) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET ST. LOUIS (2-6) @ TEXAS (6-2) FOX
Sunday @ 8pm ET MEMPHIS (6-2) @ HOUSTON (6-2) ESPN/EFN
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